Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Why does my Roomba keep cleaning the same area?

Robot vacuums are a game-changing smart home invention. They aren't a do-it-all device but rather something that does one thing (two for mopping variants) expertly. So even if you only save an hour from vacuuming your place, that's an hour you get to put back somewhere else in your life.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Roomba Smart Vaccuum

Granted, like all technology devices, robot vacs aren't perfect. Machine learning or A.I. devices have to go through growing pains. Sometimes your Roomba or another robot vacuum will have an issue, like cleaning the same area repeatedly, even after it's been cleaned.

Here, we'll talk about how to fix your Roomba from repeatedly going over the same area. First, we have to identify what could be wrong with the Roomba itself. There are various reasons why it could not be performing optimally in cleaning your home. Some causes of a malfunctioning Roomba could be a lack of enough light, a lot of objects on the floor, malfunctioning wheels, or a dirty sensor. Let's go through how to fix these issues with a step-by-step plan.

iRobot Roomba 694 at Best Buy - Wi-Fi connected robot vacuum.
iRobot

How to keep your Roomba from cleaning the same area

There isn't one easy fix for this issue. Try each of these troubleshooting steps to get the Roomba moving around the entire room and not just stay in one place.

Step 1: Update the app and system

First and foremost, make sure the iHome app and Roomba are updated to the latest firmware.

Step 2: Provide better light

Most robot vacuums require decent light to provide the best clean. Make sure when you run your Roomba's routines, the vacuum has adequate lighting.

Step 3: Tap the bumpers

Tap the side bumpers gently to free any locked dirt and debris, then press the Clean button again to start the Roomba back up.

Step 4: Clean the bumper and cliff sensors

If the sensors are covered or dirty, they will report to the Roomba mainframe that the area is dirty where the device is. Wipe clean the sensors to return to optimum cleaning.

Step 5: Check the wheels

Frequently, some dirt or string or other objects can get trapped in your wheels, preventing the Roomba from driving correctly. Clear the wheels of any debris.

Step 6: Reset the Roomba

One of the final software steps you can do is reset your Roomba. Do this by holding the Clean button for 10 seconds on either the dock or vacuum, and then do a full clean.

Step 7: Replace the battery

Removing and replacing the Roomba's battery is possible if you see it not cleaning optimally. You can charge it via another device to determine if it's the battery or the charger, then you can order another battery online. At this point, it may be necessary to go to the next step.

Step 8: Get it serviced

Before buying another Roomba, see if iHome will service the robot via warranty and get you a new one.

Roomba cleaning FAQ

Why is my Roomba not cleaning the whole house? There are plenty of reasons why your Roomba isn't cleaning the whole house. As stated above, it could be interference on the floor or a malfunction within the Roomba itself.

**Why does my Roomba keep going over the same area? ** A Roomba may frequent the same place multiple times due to an immense amount of dirt on the floor, or more likely due to dirty sensors or low light.

**How do I get my Roomba to remap my house? ** To remap your house with your Roomba, leave it in an open room, then choose the Clean everywhere option. This will get the vacuum to check everywhere it can go.

Does Roomba learn the floor plan? From the first cleaning session, Roomba's record where they can go and clean. This function allows the vacuum to optimize its cleaning route and ensure it doesn't miss any areas.

Upon doing all of these steps, you should have a working Roomba. If this begins to start happening frequently, it may be worth buying a brand new vacuum or a different model.

Editors' Recommendations

Keyan Riddick
Keyan Riddick is a freelance writer based in the mountains on North Carolina. When he isn't writing you can find him behind…
Robot vacuum deals: Roomba, Shark, eufy and more
iRobot Roomba 694 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum cleaning up spilled cereal.

If you live somewhere with a lot of dust particles in the air, then you know the pain and frustration of having to regularly clean up the floors from a fine layer of dirt and dust. While that can be very exhausting, there are some solutions in the form of robot vacuums, and you don't even need to get one of the best robot vacuums for good results. Of course, they can be quite pricey, so after you've checked out how to choose a robot vacuum, be sure to check out our favorite robot vacuum deals below.  Of course, if you'd like something from a big name like Roomba, we've collected some of our favorite Roomba deals as well. On the other hand, if you want something a bit more traditional, then these vacuum deals and cordless cordless vacuum deals are great options, too.

Ionvac SmartClean 2000 -- $76, was $129

Read more
Best Roomba deals: Top robot vacuums from as little as $160
iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum.

Cleaning up a whole house can be a tiring task, especially if you live in a city or a place where there is a lot of air pollution and dust gets everywhere. Luckily, robot vacuums like the Roomba can help with that quite considerably, and while they can't put stuff away or clean more substantial messes, they can help keep your house free of smaller dust and debris. That said, Roomba robot vacuums tend to be quite expensive, which is why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite Roomba deals below.

That said, if you don't necessarily want a Roomba, you can check out these general robot vacuum deals, and for the more substantial messes, there are always these vacuum deals and cordless vacuum deals too.
iRobot Roomba 694 -- $180, was $275

Read more
There’s a robot vacuum for $79 in Walmart’s Memorial Day sale
The iHome AutoVac Juno robot vacuum cleaning the floor.

If you’re interested in automating cleaning with a robot vacuum but don’t want to spend too much, Walmart has some great robot vacuum deals right now. That includes being able to save a huge $120 off the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum bringing it down to just $79 for a limited time only. If that sounds like the perfect price to you but you need to know a little more, keep reading and we’ll take you through all you need to know.

Why you should buy the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum
If you’ve checked out the best robot vacuums but decided you need to keep costs down, you’ll appreciate how much the iHome AutoVac Juno Robot Vacuum offers while staying super affordable.

Read more